Rest easy with safety tips for baby's bedtime

Monday

Aug 31, 2009 at 12:38 AM

Rebecca Potter-Volentine believed that it was commonplace to decorate her newborn's crib with stuffed animals and frilly blankets because they were cute. However, the new mom changed her mind after learning that those items in a crib could potentially be hazardous to her baby.

By Harriet DanielsStaff writer

Rebecca Potter-Volentine believed that it was commonplace to decorate her newborn's crib with stuffed animals and frilly blankets because they were cute.However, the new mom changed her mind after learning that those items in a crib could potentially be hazardous to her baby. During a recent follow-up visit by Healthy Families Alachua/Columbia/Union and Bradford Counties family support worker Carmen Bustillo at Potter-Volentine's home, a review of the information was a helpful reminder."They showed me how to place her in the crib to sleep so she can breathe and reduce the risk of SIDS," Potter-Volentine said.With a rising number of infant deaths in the past year, resulting largely from unsafe sleeping environments, local family support agencies have joined forces to educate parents and other caregivers.In Alachua County, data from the Department of Children and Families shows that 12 infant deaths related to unsafe sleeping arrangements were reported in the 2008-09 fiscal year compared to six in the previous year.The 2008 Florida Child Abuse Death Review Committee, which examines infant deaths from the prior year, reported that 38 children statewide died in 2007 as a result of suffocation due to an unsafe sleep environment. Most of the children were 6 months old or younger.Ages of the infants ranged from just a few days to 7 months.The medical examiner in several cases determined the babies died from being in unsafe sleeping environments that caused asphyxiation.Others were due to a sleeping adult rolling on the infant or the baby getting stuck between a headboard or wall.A few deaths were listed as either SUID —sudden unexplained infant death — or SIDS — sudden infant death syndrome.Becky O'Brien, spokeswoman for DCF Circuits 3 and 8, said half of the deaths in the 13-county region in the past year occurred in Alachua County.O'Brien said the numbers prompted the agencies to pool their efforts to address the issue starting with getting the information out during prenatal visits."We want to find every avenue we can to reach new parents about safe sleeping habits for infants and those with other children," she said. "We want to change what they've done previously."The core message from family educators is that a baby should be placed in a crib alone and on its back. And while the practice of co-sleeping — a baby sharing the same bed as parents or siblings — is widely popular in some circles, groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies not share a bed.Christie Ferris, director of prevention services for Florida's Ounce of Prevention, said that in June the agency launched a campaign to educate parents and caregivers.She said all of the Healthy Start coalitions in the state will help spread awareness at the local level through doctors' offices, hospitals and other family support organizations.The effort also will gather information through a voluntary survey to gauge whether the organizations have made a difference in the number of families who co-sleep.Ferris said there are a variety of recommended ways for parents to bond safely with infants while reducing the risk of infant death through sharing a bed or other unsafe practices.Joyce LeBlanc, program director for Healthy Families Alachua/Columbia/Union and Bradford Counties, said the practice of co-sleeping is part instinct and part tradition, which they are working to overcome.While all parents enrolled in the county's Healthy Families programs hear information on safe sleeping in a 12-topic curriculum, LeBlanc said a critical time to remind them is when a infant reaches about 4 months old."We have moms with several older children at home and who say they wish they had heard the information earlier with their other children," she said.Other parents, she adds, are reluctant to changing their habits."Why take the risk?" LeBlanc asked. "One baby dying is too many, especially when it can be prevented."Contact Harriet Daniels at harriet.daniels@gvillesun.com or 338-3166.